Enrique Alemán, Educational Leadership and Policy/Ethnic Studies, University of Utah

Jose Limón, American Literature and Latina/o Studies, University of Notre Dame

Sheila Contreras, Literature and Chicano/Latino Studies, Michigan State University

Dennis Bixler-Márquez, Chicana/o Studies, University of El Paso

Roberto R. Calderón, History and Mexican American Studies, University of North Texas

Roxanne Schroeder-Arce, Theatre and Mexican American Studies, University of Texas at Austin

Victor Gomez, History and Mexican American Studies, South Texas College

Call for Proposals

Recent attacks on Chican@ and Ethnic Studies programs are reminders of the need for spaces to produce knowledge in, about, and for our communities. This conference provides an environment to encounter and engage recent work by those who situate their teaching, research, writing, creative activities, and advocacy on and beyond an academic campus. This call for proposals centers on the ways in which academic research, creative activities, pedagogy, and activism can directly affect and become embedded in these communities.

The conference seeks to bring together scholars, teachers, artists, activists, and other individuals or groups dedicated to Chican@ Studies and Latin@ Studies. With a trans-/extra-disciplinary approach, the 2013 annual conference will represent areas of concern in Chican@, Latin@, Ethnic, Gender, and Critical Race Studies, History, Philosophy, Art, Literature, Theatre and Performance, Music, Social Psychology, Education, Anthropology, Sociology, Political Science, Economics, and other approaches concerned with social justice. Proposals on the methods and outcomes of participatory or action research are particularly encouraged. The program will feature panels on Human Rights, Critical Pedagogies and Epistemologies, Native Issues, Decolonization / Democratization, Gender and LGBTQ Issues, Race and Racialization, Politics, Language, Transnationalism and Immigration. Those with experience as students, teachers, activists, scholars, artists, and other community members are invited to submit the following types of proposals: panels, papers, performances, posters/exhibits, creative activities, testimonios, round tables, film screenings, workshops, and other innovative presentations.

Submit proposals by December 1, 2012 to mas@utpa.edu. In your proposal, include the type of presentation, title, an abstract of 150-250 words, your full contact information, and any audiovisual requests. Proposals and presentations need not be in English. For further information and to register for the conference, go to http://www.naccs-tejas-2013.blogspot.com. Participants will have the opportunity to submit their papers for consideration for the NACCS Tejas Foco 2013 Conference Proceedings in the peer-reviewed Rio Bravo: Journal of Borderlands, published by the University of Texas, Pan American.

Pre-Conference Registration Deadline: January 21st, 2013

•Workshop Fee: (Free for UTPA staff, faculty, and students). For participants not affiliated with UTPA, a $15.00 registration fee is due by the deadline.

Workshop leader Dr. Francisco Guajardo (Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Director of the Center for Bilingual Studies, UTPA) facilitates a process to author testimonios and digital narratives with participants and students. Process includes production of audio narratives through written narrative form and the use of digital audio technology. This particular pedagogy and participant-generated content exemplify the type of work possible in a school and community context. Participants receive a certificate showing the Professional Development hours earned.

•Workshop Fee: (Free for UTPA students). Students at other institutions need to pay the conference registration fee by the January 21st deadline.

Workshop leaders Dr. Dolores Delgado Bernal (University of Utah), Dr. Aída Hurtado (University of California, Santa Barbara), Dr. Marcos Pizarro (San José State University), and Dr. Sheila Contreras (Michigan State University) will mentor and encourage students interested in graduate studies with a focus on both M.A. and PhD programs. In the morning session, workshop leaders will discuss the Chican@ and Latin@ educational experience, with an afternoon session focused on what graduate students do in their various programs and with their degrees. The workshop provides students with direct contact with these decision-makers and intellectual leaders. The workshop may also cover the application process, including cover letters, writing samples, and other components of the graduate degree-seeking and professional development process.